Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2020

Notes:
The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is a 15-digit unique serial number of mobile devices. It is allocated by a global industry body GSMA and its authorised organisations. In India, Mobile Standards Alliance of India (MSAI) is the official reporting body of GSMA.
Recently, the Department of Telecom has taken over the process of issuing and allocating the IMEI numbers for mobile phones in India from the private body MSAI. The new ‘Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction (ICDR) system’, which has been developed by the R&D unit of DoT is being tested on pilot basis on the web portal of Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR).

Notes:
Veteran diplomat Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been recently appointed as India’s next ambassador to Nepal, as per the recent announcement made by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Vinay Kwatra is a 1988 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, who is currently serving as the Ambassador of India to Paris. He has now replaced Manjeev Singh Puri who has attained superannuation from service. Vinay Kwatra has held instrumental positions in several organisations including Permanent Mission of India in Geneva, SAARC Secretariat in Nepal, Embassy of India in Washington among others.

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, K Palaniswami recently announced a new initiative called ‘Direct CTO (Consent to Operate)’, which aims to provide faster clearance to companies which operate under ‘Green category industries’.
The companies are classified in red, orange, green and white categories based on the pollution index generated, according to Ministry of Environment. This scheme is expected to benefit micro, small and medium enterprises under ‘Green category’ to commence their operations with faster clearance from the government.

Notes:
The National Statistical Office released revised estimates for economic growth of India for the last three years, on January 31,2020. As per the report, it fixed the actual GDP growth 2018-19 at 6.1%, against its previous estimate of 6.8%, estimated in May 2019.
The National Statistical Office also stated that the main reason for the downward revision in the GDP growth rate is deceleration in farming and mining activities in primary sector and manufacturing activities in secondary sector. It also marked the growth rate in 2017-18 as 7%. Recently, NSO estimated the growth rate in 2019-20 to be 5%.

Notes:
Technological major Google has recently launched a short-video making application called ‘Tangi’, which is similar to the popular application TikTok.
The application has been launched initially on the web and iOS platforms. Users have to post a short-video on a ‘Do-it-yourself’ (DIY) and creativity content using the application. The application for 60-second-videos has been designed by the incubator of Google called ‘Area 120’. The name of the application is inspired by ‘Teach and Give’ and ‘Tangible’ things. Communities centered around similar hobbies can also be formed.

Notes:
The 35th edition of India International Leather Fair (IILF), 2020 is being held in the capital city of Tamil Nadu, Chennai. The fair is being held from February 1 to 3, 2020 at the Chennai Trade Centre.
The fair is organized by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), which functions under aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry for promoting country’s external trade. A large variety of products related to leather industry are being displayed in the 3-day-long international fair. Latest trends and designs of the global fashion are also showcased in the event.

Notes:
The 21-year-old American tennis star Sofia Kenin won her maiden Grand slam title, as she won the women’s singles title in the Australian Open tournament.
She defeated the other finalist Garbine Muguruza 4-6 6-2 6-2 and became the youngest winner of the tournament, after Maria Sharapova clinched the trophy before 12 years. The mixed doubles title of the event was won by the duo -Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic and Croatia’s Nikola Mektic. While Krejcikova retained her mixed doubles crown, Nikola won his maiden trophy.

Notes:
The Antonov An-32 of the Indian Air Force recently took-off from the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh. The aircraft was powered with a 10% blend of Indian bio-jet fuel.
This is the first time that both engines of the aircraft were powered by the indigenous bio-jet fuel. The bio-fuel is produced from the tree borne oils, grown and acquired from the tribal areas of Chhattisgarh. The aircraft was initially flight tested at Chandigarh Air Base before undertaking the operational flight to Leh.

Notes:
A new scheme was proposed in the budget, which is to be implemented by the Aviation Ministry, for transporting agricultural products of farmers. The scheme was named as ‘Krishi Udan Scheme’.
The scheme is to be launched by the ministry on both international and national routes, which will improve the value realisation on the agricultural products of the farmers. The scheme will assist the farmers with more focus on north-east and tribal districts. The UDAN scheme was launched in 2016, to boost regional connectivity at affordable air-fares. The airlines are provided concessions from the centre, state and airport operators.

Notes:
Pramod Agrawal assumed charge as the new Chairman and Managing Director of Coal India Ltd, a Maharatna Public Sector Enterprise.
Public Enterprises Selection Board recommended the name of the 1991 batch IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre for the post of Chairman and Managing Director. Prior to this appointment, he was serving as the Principal Secretary for urban development and housing department in Madhya Pradesh. He replaced A K Jha, who retired as the chairman of Coal India Ltd on January 31, 2020.